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Part 2 — When Boats Meet

Section B — General Limitations

16

CHANGING COURSE

16.1: Changing Course

When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.

16.2: Changing Course

In addition, on a beat to windward when a port-tack boat is keeping clear by sailing to pass to leeward of a starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not bear away if as a result the port-tack boat must change course immediately to continue keeping clear.

Definitions in Context

Keep Clear

A boat keeps clear of a right-of-way boat

  • (a) if the right-of-way boat can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action and,
  • (b) when the boats are overlapped, if the right-of-way boat can also change course in both directions without immediately making contact.

Rule 15

When a boat acquires right of way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear , unless she acquires right of way because of the other boat’s act...

Rule 17

If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while...

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